Burglar alarm and protector



A. HORVITZ.

BURGLAR ALARM AND PROTECTOR. v APPLICATION FILED APR. l2, 1917- 14404295, Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

INVENTOR.

AR HOH VIT'Z f//' ATTORNEY.

AARON HOIRVI'IZ, Ol CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUBGLAB ALARM AND PROTECTOR.

Bpeoloation of Letters Bate-nt.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

Application led April 12, 1917. Serial No. 161,814,

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known tlfat I, AARON Honvr'rz, a

citizen of the United States, and a residentof the cit of Chicago, county of Cook, and

State of llinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Burglar Alarms and Protectors, of which the followin is aspecication,

y invention relates to improvements in burglar alarm and protector mechanism, designed for use especially in oice buildings.

The object of m invention is the production of a burglar aliirm and protector mechanism of the character mentioned which will be of high efficiency and which may be readily and easily operated by the olice occupant seeking protection.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and .arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompan ing drawing forming a part of this speci cat1on, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a partially dia rammatic perspective View of an oiiice esk and building in connection with which is shown a burglar alarm and protector, embodymg the invention, and

Fig. 2 is an enlar ed detail section through the sign or disp ay device, included in the construction.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings comprises an office desk l, the top 2 of which is hinged at 3,' to permit of swinging of the same to vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Said top 2 is normall held in vertical position by means of he ical torsional springs 4, said top, when in vertical position, being adapted to constitute a protector or shield for the oiice occupant against the bullets of a burglar or intruder entering the olice. The member 2 is formed with side flanges or leaves 5 which are adapted to more effectually guard the proposed victim, the arrangement being such that, when the desk top2is released and-swung to vertical position, a three-sided inclosure or protector will be formed. When the .desk top is swung to vertical osition, an opening 6 in the body of the des is uncovered into which the intended victim may step for more effective protection. The desk top 2 is held in lowered or horizontal position, as shown 1n full lines in Fig. 1, by means of a spring catch 7 carried by and de ending from the l top at one end, said catch eing adapted for engagement with an electrically shiftable bolt 8 with which cooperates a conventional solenoid coil arranged in an electric circuit 9. 'lhe arrangement is such that, when the solenoid coil 1s energized through closing of said circuit, the catch 7 will be released to permit of u ward swinging of the desk top. The catc 7 is also formed with a forwardly 4rrojecting handle 10 whereby the same may e manually flexed to effect release of the same.

At the front of the buildin in which the desk 1 is arranged is provicgied a display sign 11` having approprlate reading matter whereby, when said sign is uncovered or displayed, it will serve to advise passers-by at the street or sidewalk that a the building and that help is wanted. The sign 11 is covered by a cover 12 which is hinged at 13, helical torsional sprin s 14 cooperating-with said cover to norma ly hold the same in upwardly swung or open position.` Said cover is held in lowered or traversing position by means of a stop 15 adapted for engagement with a depending finger 16, carried at the free end of said cover. The stop 15 is adapted to be retracted through energizing of a solenoid coil 17 arranged in a suitable housing 18, said solenoid coil being interposed in the circuit 9 in series with the solenoid coil, above described.

Also interposed in the circuit 9 is aswitch 19 which isnormally open. Said switch 19 will be conveniently located adjacent the desk 1 and preferably on the door within the space 6 so as to be adapted for engagement by the foot of the oflice occupant so that in case of sudden entrance of a burglar or other dangerous intruder, said switch may be readily and quickly closed in order to close the circuit 9. Said closing of said circuit will simultaneously effect release of the desk top 2 and the sign cover 12, the former moving upwardly to protecting position and the latter swinging upwai` :y to display the sign 11, in order to summon help.

In order to more efectually advise passersby of the presence of a burglar in a buildin an electric bell 20 is also employed which 1s arranged adjacent the sign 11, said electric burglar is in f bell being interposed in an electric circuit 21. Also, the slgn l1 will be of the transparent type with electric lights 22 arranged behind the same, said electric lights belng arranged parallel with the bell 20 in the circuit 21. I

The circuit 21 is normally broken by a Spring contact member 23 adapted, upon depression, to engage with a stationary contact 24 to close the circuit. Upon the cover 12 is provided a laterally projecting finger 25 adapted, when said cover is swung to open osition, to engage with the contact mem- Eer 23 in order to de ress the 4Same so as to close circuit I21. hus, it will be seen that, when the over 12 is released and swung to open position, as above described,

' the circuit will also be closed to effect illumination of the sign 11 and sounding of the alarm bell 20.

If desired, the electric circuit 9 and the mechanism coope-rating with stop 15, as well as the springs 14, may be dispensed with` and in lieu of these parts which serve the function of releasing the sign cover 12, andA swinging thesame to open position, a cord 26 may be employed connecting the desk top 2 and said sign cover, said cord being passed around suitably arranged pulleys 27, as will be readily understood. With this arrangement it will be seen that the cover 12 will normally hang by gravity in traversing position, and upon rocking of the desk top to vertical position, said cover, through the medium of the cord 26, will be simultaneously rocked to raised or open position. Where the latter arrangement 1s employed, the electrical mechanism for releasing the desk top will also be dispensed with, said top, with this arrangement being released by manual engagement with the handle 10.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction, for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departin from the spirit of the invention. I, there ore, do not wish to be limited to the percise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations Vsaid sign; a sprin and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an alarm system for buildings, an electric bell interposed in a normally open electric circuit; an electric sign associated with said circuit com rising an elongated body; a cover for sai sign hin ed to one of the longitudinal edges of sai bodand adapted, in one position, to cover sai sign,'

and adapted, in another position, to expose for moving said cover to and holding sai cover in\exposing position; a catch for retaining said cover in said covering position; electrically-operated means for* operating said catch to release said cover to permiit of swinging of the same to exposing position; spring contact elements arranged adjacent said cover for closing said circuit; and a laterally projecting arm carried at the outer end of said cover for actuating said contact elements to close said circuit when the sign is exposed, substantially as described.

2. In a burglar alarm system for a building, an alarm sign mountable on the exterior of building; a normally open electric circuit associated with said sign; a bell interposed,

in said circuit; a cover hinged to said sign; means on said cover to close said circuit; a catch for retaining said cover closed; a second electric circuit including electrically operated means to withdraw said catch and release said cover; spring means for automatically forcing and retaining said cover open upon release of said catch, thereby exposing s'aid sign and closing said first circuit; and means interposed in said first circuit to illuminate said sign.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AARON HORVITZ.

Witnesses JOSHUA R. H. Pofrfrs, HELEN F. LILLIs. 

